Small cell endocrine cancer. Modern therapeutic tactics in small cell lung cancer (SCLC)

Small cell lung cancer is a form of lung cancer characterized by the formation of a malignant tumor with the rapid development of metastases in the body.

Unlike other forms, this type of cancer is the worst, occurs rarely (in 20% of the total number of pathologies) and has a very unfavorable prognosis.

So, a tumor is a malignant degeneration of epithelial tissue, which provokes a violation of air exchange. This provokes hypoxia and the rapid formation of metastases. Small cell lung cancer is determined by the rapid course, resulting in a high rate of death.

Etiology and causes of development

The presented pathology carries the danger of death for the patient's life, and already during the first 2-3 months after diagnosis. The malignant transformation of epithelial tissues entails the rapid and rapid formation and growth of a tumor, which can be localized both in the organ itself and in the bronchial system.

The distinctive characteristics of the small cell form include rapid metastasis. First, metastases affect the lymphatic system - the lymph nodes. Then they "go beyond", affecting the internal organs and even the spinal cord and brain of a person.

Depending on the type of tumor, the course of the disease is somewhat different. Thus, the nodular nature of the development of the tumor leads to damage to the pulmonary arteries, as a result of which their walls thicken significantly. In the process of development, the level of hormones serotonin, calcitonin, antidiuretic increases. Hormonal activity is the cause of the formation of metastases.

The rapid course of the disease leads to the fact that almost all patients suffer from already advanced stages - this leads to a lack of the proper effect of treatment.

Tobacco smoking contributes to the development of a deadly pathology, therefore, men aged 40 to 70 years are mostly distinguished among the sick. In recent years, the dynamics of small cell lung cancer cases among women has begun to increase sharply - this is due to the increase in smoking women.

Small cell lung cancer develops due to the following reasons:

To protect yourself as much as possible from the development of small cell lung cancer, you should protect yourself from harmful substances and stop smoking.

Symptoms and types

Symptoms of SCLC include:

As the pathology progresses, the cough becomes paroxysmal and persistent. Gradually, when coughing, sputum begins to separate, in which streaks of blood are noticeable. The last stages are characterized by an increase in body temperature. If the tumor has affected the superior vena cava, the patient has an unhealthy swelling of the upper part - the face and neck. Metastases often affect the liver, which is manifested by the development of jaundice.

Small cell carcinoma, depending on the location of the tumor, is divided into the following types:

Depending on the localization of a malignant tumor, its increase and further development depend. So, the peripheral and apical view quite quickly “overgrows” with metastases - this is due to the contact of the circulatory system.

stages

Like any cancer, small cell lung cancer is divided into 4 stages. They directly indicate the features and development of the pathology at the moment of the course of the disease:

Stage 4 is determined by a serious lesion and significant development of metastases in the human body. Basically, the liver is isolated here - jaundice occurs, bones - aching bones and other lesions.

Diagnostics

If you find yourself with the symptoms presented above, you should immediately consult a doctor, since the diagnosis of pathology at stages 3 or 4 will not lead to effective treatment. Among the diagnostic measures include the following methods of examination:

It is important for the patient to undergo a complete examination to determine not only a cancerous tumor, but also the spread of cancer cells throughout the body. This makes it possible to prescribe a course of treatment to maintain the work and partial recovery of organs with metastases. The examination can give an approximate prognosis for recovery and the effectiveness of treatment.

Treatment

Treatment of small cell lung cancer occurs in three ways, where they are isolated:

chemotherapy;
Medical treatment;
Surgical intervention.

In the course of treatment, it is possible to approximately give a prognosis for recovery, the patient's life expectancy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer is the basis of all treatment. The presented procedure is applied at any stages, and especially at stages 1,2 and 4. In the initial stages, the destruction of cancer cells partially guarantees the prevention of the formation of metastases. At stage 4 of the disease, chemotherapy can somewhat alleviate the fate of the patient and prolong his life.

Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer is carried out as the main method of treatment or in combination with additional radiation. After the first course, it is possible to determine the prognosis of life expectancy in 2-3 months.

Localized cancer of the right or left lung requires 2-4 courses of chemotherapy. For treatment, drugs Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide, Cisplatin and others are used.

Medical treatment

Treatment with drugs is more aimed at maintaining already affected organs. Here, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent the reproduction of the infection. If metastases are found in the liver, a drug is prescribed to protect and restore cells - Essentiale.

In the presence of damage to brain cells, drugs are used that saturate the cells with oxygen - Glycine, from the more serious Pantogam and others.

As a rule, the treatment of small cell lung cancer with medication does not bring a positive result. Even if the disease was detected at an early stage, the only way to get rid of cancer cells is through surgery.

Surgical intervention

Surgery is almost always used - it is important to remove a malignant tumor in time. In the presence of stage 1 or 2, the prognosis for an increase in life expectancy is quite favorable.

For the complete removal of cancer cells, complex treatment is used - removal of the tumor and chemotherapy. With a favorable outcome, the patient can extend his life by 5-10 years, or even completely cope with the disease.

If small cell lung cancer was detected at stage 3-4 with extensive damage to the internal organs of the body, specialists do not always resort to surgical intervention - there is a high risk of death even during the operation.

To begin with, the patient is prescribed a full course of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Partial elimination of cancer cells and reduction of metastases favorably influences the decision on operable treatment.

A 45-year-old man came to the clinic with complaints of a persistent dry cough without other accompanying symptoms of a cold. The patient was recommended to undergo an examination - to take a picture of fluorography, to donate blood for analysis. When considering the data obtained, a tumor was found in the lung cavity measuring 2.5 cm. Blood tests indirectly indicated the malignancy of the detected tumor. In addition, sputum was taken for laboratory analysis, as well as a biopsy of the tumor itself.

The results showed that the patient was rapidly developing small cell lung cancer, because in the presence of a cough, the man did not stop smoking.

The patient was sent to the hospital in the oncology department. He underwent a course of chemotherapy, and then proceeded to remove the tumor. By preventing the formation of metastases, the specialists extended the life of the patient. 6 years have passed since the operation, the man regularly undergoes examinations, quit smoking, takes appropriate medications to maintain the body. The results of the tests deny a relapse, but it cannot be completely ruled out, since the remission of a cancerous disease can last up to 10-15 years.

Of course, when an oncological pathology is detected, patients are more interested in how long they live in such cases. It is impossible to answer exactly, since everything depends on the circumstances inherent in the moment of diagnosing the disease.

When a tumor is detected in the initial stages, the survival rate is more than 50% with partial remission and 70-90% with complete remission. But if the patient refuses chemotherapy, he shortens his life - on average, the duration is estimated as 10-12 weeks in the absence of timely treatment.

It is important to regularly undergo examinations and, if unpleasant symptoms occur, contact a specialist. You should not refuse the prescribed treatment after the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer - this form of oncological pathology develops rapidly, where a day of delay can cost a person life.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is one of the most severe forms of cancer. First of all, because of the fast and dynamic development. In addition, statistics indicate that this type of cancer is quite common - it covers about 25% of all lung cancers. Smoking men are at particular risk (95% of confirmed diagnoses), and if we consider the age limit, the disease affects mainly people over 40 years old.

Smoking is considered the main and most significant cause of the appearance of small cell cancer, and the main aggravating factors are the person's age, smoking experience and the volume of cigarettes smoked per day. Since nicotine addiction is increasingly affecting women, it is not surprising that the incidence of this type of cancer among women has increased.

But equally important risk factors include:

difficult working conditions (interaction with Ni, Cr, As);
poor ecology in the place of residence;
genetic predisposition.

In addition, pathology often occurs after tuberculosis or against the background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Now the problem of the histogenesis of the disease is considered from two sides - neuroectodermal and endodermal. Adherents of the latter theory believe that this type of oncology develops from bronchial epithelial cells, which have a similar biochemical composition to small cell carcinoma cells.

Experts who adhere to the neuroectodermal theory believe that such an oncological disease appears from the cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. It should be noted that the presence of neurosecretory granules in the tumor cells, an increase in the concentration of hormones and the release of bioactive substances speaks of the logic of this version. But it is impossible to say for sure why this type of oncology occurs, since there have been cases when the pathology was diagnosed in people who adhere to a healthy lifestyle and do not have an oncological predisposition.

External manifestations

As a rule, the first manifestation of this pathology is a prolonged cough. It is often mistaken for smoker's bronchitis. A particularly alarming sign for a person should be the appearance of blood streaks in the sputum. In addition, with such a pathology, shortness of breath, chest pain, poor appetite, all-encompassing weakness and causeless loss of body weight are quite often noted. Sometimes the disease can be mistaken for obstructive pneumonia, so careful diagnosis is very important.

Prolonged hacking cough - the first manifestation of SCLC

At stages 3-4, new unpleasant symptoms are connected: hoarseness of the voice due to paralysis of the vocal nerves and symptoms of compression of the superior vena cava. Paraneoplastic symptoms may also be noted: Cushing's syndrome, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. In addition, this pathology is typically characterized by earlier appearance of metastases in the intrathoracic lymph nodes, liver, adrenal glands, bones and brain. In such circumstances, symptoms will appear that indicate the localization of metastases (jaundice, pain in the spine or head).

Classification of the disease

The division into stages of this disease is identical to that for other types of lung cancer. But until now, this type of oncology is characterized by a division into a limited (localized) and widespread stage of the disease. The limited stage is characterized by the defeat of the tumor process on one side, with a concomitant increase in the supraclavicular, mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes. In the case of a common stage, there is a capture by the formation of the other half of the chest, the appearance of pleurisy and metastases. Unfortunately, more than half of patients have this particular form of small cell cancer.

If we consider the morphology, then inside small cell oncology there are:

oat cell carcinoma;
cancer from cells of an intermediate type;
mixed (combined) cancer.

In the first case, the formation is formed by layers of the smallest spindle-shaped cells with round and oval nuclei. For cancer of the intermediate type, rather large rounded, oblong and polygonal cells are typical, with a clear structure of the nucleus. As for combined cancer, they talk about it when oat cell carcinoma is detected with manifestations of adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

Diagnosis of pathology

In order to correctly assess the extent of the spread of pathology, clinical studies (visual assessment of the physiological state) are often combined with instrumental diagnostics. The latter includes 3 stages.

Visualization of manifestations of pathology by means of radiation techniques: X-ray of the sternum, CT of the lungs, positron emission tomography.
Morphological confirmation: bronchoscopy, biopsy, diagnostic thoracoscopy, pleural puncture with fluid withdrawal. Further, the biomaterial is also sent for histological and cytological examination.
At the last stage of research, they try to exclude distant metastases. For this purpose, MRI of the brain, MSCT of the peritoneum and bone scintigraphy are performed.

Chest x-ray - the first step in the diagnosis of SCLC

Treatment

The division of pathology into stages helps specialists to navigate how to treat it and outlines the possibilities of its surgical or conservative treatment. It should be noted right away that the surgical method of treating small cell lung cancer is used only in the initial stages of cancer. But it is necessarily accompanied by several courses of postoperative chemotherapy.

To date, the treatment of small cell lung cancer in this way shows quite good results.

If the patient refuses complex therapy and chemotherapy in particular, then with such a malignant lung formation, his life expectancy is unlikely to exceed 17 weeks.

It is customary to treat the disease with the help of 2-4 courses of polychemotherapy with the use of cytostatic agents. For example:

Etoposide;
Cisplatin;
Vincristine;
Cyclophosphamide;
Doxorubicin.

This type of treatment is combined with radiation. The action of radiation therapy lends itself to the initial foci of education and lymph nodes. If a patient undergoes a course of this combined treatment against small cell lung cancer, then the prognosis for his life expectancy improves - a person can live two years longer. However, it is important to understand that 100% healing in this case is impossible.

When the pathology is widespread, the patient is prescribed at least 5 courses of polychemotherapy. If there is a spread of metastasis to the adrenal glands, brain and bones, then a course of radiation therapy is also strongly recommended. Although small cell type of lung cancer has an extremely increased sensitivity to polychemotherapeutic treatment and radiation, nevertheless, there is still a rather high risk of recurrence.

After completion of therapy, the patient is advised to undergo systematic examinations in order to timely detect the secondary spread of oncology. However, if relapses of small cell carcinoma are resistant to antitumor therapy, then a person's life expectancy is rarely more than four months.

Forecast

The first question that interests patients with a confirmed diagnosis of small cell lung cancer is how long they live with a similar disease. Without complex therapy for this type of oncology, the development of the pathological process invariably leads to death. It is foolish to expect that the disease will pass on its own. With small cell lung cancer, the patient's life expectancy directly depends on the correctly chosen treatment, as well as the intensity of the development of the pathological process.

If the disease is detected at the initial stage, then a five-year survival rate is observed in 22-39% of patients. When this type of oncology is detected at the terminal stage, only 9% of patients reach the five-year milestone. When doctors observe a decrease in size during treatment, most experts agree that this is a favorable sign.

In this case, the patient has a good chance of a longer life expectancy. Even if the therapy led to only a partial remission effect, the survival rate is 50%. If it was possible to achieve complete remission, then 70-90% of patients survive to the five-year milestone. Therefore, even with such a depressing diagnosis, one should not despair and give up.

- a histological type of a malignant lung tumor with an extremely aggressive course and a poor prognosis. Clinically manifested by cough, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, chest pain, weakness, weight loss; in later stages - symptoms of mediastinal compression. Instrumental methods for diagnosing small cell lung cancer (X-ray, CT, bronchoscopy, etc.) must be confirmed by the results of a biopsy of the tumor or lymph nodes, cytological analysis of pleural exudate. Surgical treatment of small cell lung cancer is advisable only in the early stages; the main role is given to polychemotherapy and radiation therapy.

ICD-10

C34 Malignant neoplasm of bronchi and lung

General information

The problem of histogenesis of small cell lung cancer is currently considered from two positions - endodermal and neuroectodermal. Proponents of the first theory are inclined to the point of view that this type of tumor develops from the cells of the epithelial lining of the bronchi, which are similar in structure and biochemical properties to small cell carcinoma cells. Other researchers are of the opinion that the cells of the APUD system (diffuse neuroendocrine system) give rise to the development of small cell carcinoma. This hypothesis is confirmed by the presence of neurosecretory granules in tumor cells, as well as an increase in the secretion of biologically active substances and hormones (serotonin, ACTH, vasopressin, somatostatin, calcitonin, etc.) in small cell lung cancer.

Classification

Staging of small cell carcinoma according to the international TNM system does not differ from that for other types of lung cancer. However, until now, a classification is relevant in oncology that distinguishes between localized (limited) and widespread stages of small cell lung cancer. The limited stage is characterized by a unilateral tumor lesion with an increase in hilar, mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph nodes. With a common stage, the transition of the tumor to the other half of the chest, cancerous pleurisy, metastases are noted. About 60% of detected cases are in the advanced form (III-IV stage according to the TNM system).

In morphological terms, within small cell lung cancer, oat cell carcinoma, intermediate cell type cancer, and mixed (combined) oat cell carcinoma are distinguished. Oat cell carcinoma is microscopically represented by layers of small spindle-shaped cells (2 times larger than lymphocytes) with rounded or oval nuclei. Cancer from cells of the intermediate type is characterized by cells of a larger size (3 times more than lymphocytes) of a round, oblong or polygonal shape; cell nuclei have a clear structure. A combined histotype of a tumor is said to occur when the morphological features of oat cell carcinoma are combined with those of adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

Symptoms of small cell lung cancer

Usually the first sign of a tumor is a prolonged cough, which is often regarded as smoker's bronchitis. An alarming symptom is always the appearance of an admixture of blood in the sputum. Also characterized by chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, weight loss, progressive weakness. In some cases, small cell lung cancer clinically manifests with obstructive pneumonia caused by bronchus occlusion and atelectasis of a part of the lung, or exudative pleurisy.

In the later stages, when the mediastinum is involved in the process, a mediastinal compression syndrome develops, including dysphagia, hoarseness due to paralysis of the laryngeal nerve, signs of compression of the superior vena cava. Often there are various paraneoplastic syndromes: Cushing's syndrome, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, syndrome of inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

Small cell lung cancer is characterized by early and widespread metastasis to the intrathoracic lymph nodes, adrenal glands, liver, bones and brain. In this case, the symptoms correspond to the localization of metastases (hepatomegaly, jaundice, pain in the spine, headaches, bouts of loss of consciousness, etc.).

Diagnostics

For a correct assessment of the degree of prevalence of the tumor process, clinical examination (examination, analysis of physical data) is supplemented by instrumental diagnostics, which is carried out in three stages. At the first stage, visualization of small cell lung cancer is achieved using radiation methods - chest x-ray, CT of the lungs, positron emission tomography.

The task of the second stage is the morphological confirmation of the diagnosis, for which bronchoscopy with a biopsy is performed,. With this scenario of patient management, the 5-year survival rate within this group does not exceed 40%.

The rest of patients with a localized form of small cell lung cancer are prescribed from 2 to 4 courses of treatment with cytostatics (cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, vincristine, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, etoposide, etc.) in monotherapy or combination therapy in combination with irradiation of the primary focus in the lung, lymph nodes root and mediastinum. When remission is achieved, prophylactic irradiation of the brain is additionally prescribed to reduce the risk of its metastatic lesion. Combination therapy can extend the life of patients with localized form of small cell lung cancer by an average of 1.5-2 years.

Patients with locally advanced stage of small cell lung cancer are shown to undergo 4-6 courses of polychemotherapy. With metastatic lesions of the brain, adrenal glands, bones, radiation therapy is used. Despite the sensitivity of the tumor to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, recurrences of small cell lung cancer are very frequent. In some cases, relapses of lung cancer are refractory to anticancer therapy - then the average survival usually does not exceed 3-4 months.

Small cell lung cancer is a malignant neoplasm that develops as a result of pathological changes in the cells of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. The disease is dangerous because it develops very quickly, already in the initial stages it can metastasize to the lymph nodes. The disease occurs more often in men than in women. At the same time, smokers are most susceptible to its occurrence.

As in any other cases, there are 4 stages of small-cell lung cancer pathology. Let's consider them in more detail:

1 stage	the tumor is small, localized in one segment of the organ, no metastasis
Stage 2 SCLC	the prognosis is quite comforting, although the size of the neoplasm is much larger, can reach 6 cm. Single metastases are observed. Their location is regional lymph nodes.
Stage 3 SCLC	the prognosis depends on the characteristics of the particular case. The tumor can exceed 6 cm in size. It spreads to neighboring segments. Metastases are more distant, but are within regional lymph nodes
Stage 4 SCLC	the prognosis is not as encouraging as in previous cases. The neoplasm goes beyond the organ. There is extensive metastasis

Of course, the success of treatment, as with any cancer, will depend on the timeliness of its detection.

Important! Statistics show that small cell makes up 25% of all existing varieties of this disease. If metastasis is observed, in most cases it affects 90% of the thoracic lymph nodes. Slightly less will be the share of the liver, adrenal glands, bones and brain.

Clinical picture

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the symptoms of small cell lung cancer at the initial stage are practically not noticeable. They can often be confused with a common cold, because a person will experience a cough, hoarseness, and difficulty breathing. But, when the disease becomes more serious, the clinical picture becomes brighter. A person will notice signs such as:

a worsening cough that does not go away after taking conventional antitussive drugs;
pain in the chest area that occurs systematically, increasing its intensity over time;
hoarseness of voice;
impurities of blood in sputum;
shortness of breath even in the absence of physical exertion;
loss of appetite, and accordingly, weight;
chronic fatigue, drowsiness;
difficulty in swallowing.

These symptoms should prompt immediate medical attention. Only timely diagnosis and effective therapy will help improve the prognosis for SCLC.

Diagnosis and features of treatment

Important! Most often, SCLC is diagnosed in people aged 40-60 years. At the same time, the proportion of men is 93%, and women suffer from this form of oncology only in 7% of the total number of cases.

High-precision diagnostics performed by experienced specialists is the key to successful getting rid of the disease. It will allow you to confirm the presence of oncology, as well as determine exactly what kind of it you have to deal with. It is possible that we are talking about non-small cell lung cancer, which is considered a less aggressive type of disease, allows you to make more comforting predictions.

The main diagnostic methods should be:

laboratory blood tests;
sputum analysis;
chest x-ray;
body CT;

Important! A lung biopsy is mandatory, followed by examination of the material. It allows you to more accurately determine the features of the neoplasm and its nature. A biopsy may be performed during bronchoscopy.

This is a standard list of studies that a patient must undergo. It can be supplemented with other diagnostic procedures if necessary.

If we talk about the treatment of small cell lung cancer, then its main method remains surgical intervention, as in other types of oncology. It is carried out in two ways - open and minimally invasive. The latter is more preferable, because it is considered less traumatic, has fewer contraindications, and is characterized by high accuracy. Such operations are performed through small incisions on the patient's body, controlled by special video cameras that display the image on the monitor.

Considering the fact that the type of oncology in question progresses very quickly, often being detected already at the stage of metastasis, doctors will use chemotherapy or radiation therapy as additional methods of treating SCLC. At the same time, irradiation or therapy with anticancer drugs can be carried out before surgery, with the aim of stopping tumor growth, destroying cancer cells, and are often performed after surgery - here they are needed to consolidate the result and prevent relapse.

Additional therapies can be used in combination. This way you can achieve more significant results. Sometimes doctors resort to polychemotherapy, combining several drugs. Everything will depend on the stage of the disease, the characteristics of the state of health of a particular patient. Radiation therapy for SCLC can be either internal or external, depending on the size of the tumor and the extent of metastases.

As for the question - how many people live with SCLC, it is difficult to give an unambiguous answer here. Everything will depend on the stage of the disease. But, given the fact that pathology is often detected already in the presence of metastasis, the main factors determining life expectancy will be: the number of metastases and their location; professionalism of attending physicians; the accuracy of the equipment used.

In any case, even with the last stage of the disease, there is a chance to extend the life of the patient by 6-12 months, significantly alleviating the symptoms.

Oncological pathologies are widespread throughout the world. The incidence of cancer is increasing every year. This is due to the fact that at present the methods of diagnosing oncological pathologies have improved significantly. One of the most common forms is small cell lung cancer. Millions of people die every year from this disease worldwide. The question of how long people live with lung cancer is very relevant. Doctors have been trying to find a cure for oncological pathologies for a long time. In modern times, oncologists have made great strides in this area. Such advances are mainly associated with early diagnosis of the disease. In addition, treatment methods are constantly being improved.

Types of small cell lung cancer

Like all lung cancer, there are varieties. The classification is based on the radiological forms and types of cells from which the tumor is formed. Depending on the morphology, 2 types of oncological processes are distinguished. More common It has a more favorable course. small cell is characterized by rapid metastasis. Occurs on rarer occasions. Also, this disease can occur in a localized (local) and widespread form.

Depending on where exactly the tumor is located, the following types are distinguished:

central cancer. It is characterized by the fact that the tumor is located in large and segmental bronchi. Most often, this pathology is difficult to diagnose.
peripheral cancer. The oncological process develops in the lung tissue itself.
Apical cancer. It also affects lung tissue. This variety is separated into a separate group, as it differs in the clinical picture (grows into the vessels of the shoulder girdle, neck).
Abdominal lung cancer.
Atypical and metastatic forms.
Pneumonia-like tumor.

What is small cell lung cancer?

This type of cancer occurs in 25% of cases. It is classified as an aggressive form due to its rapid spread to the lymphatic system. If oncological pathology is suspected in smokers, the diagnosis is often small cell lung cancer. Life expectancy in this disease primarily depends on the stage of the process. The individual characteristics of the organism and the tolerability of treatment also matter. The malignancy of this type of cancer is due to the fact that it arises from undifferentiated cells. Such a tumor seems to “seed” the lung parenchyma over a large extent, as a result of which it is difficult to detect the primary focus.

Etiology of small cell carcinoma

Like any oncological pathology, small cell lung cancer does not just happen. Atypical cells begin to multiply due to several predisposing factors. The main cause of small cell cancer is smoking. There is also a relationship between morbidity and exposure to harmful substances (heavy metals, arsenic). The likelihood of developing cancer is increased in older people who have a high smoker index (having used tobacco for many years). Predisposing factors include chronic lung diseases, including tuberculosis, COPD, obstructive bronchitis. The risk of developing small cell cancer is increased among people who have constant contact with dust particles. With a combination of factors such as smoking, chronic diseases and occupational hazards, the likelihood of a tumor is very high. In addition, the reasons for the development of oncological processes include a decrease in the body's immune defenses and chronic stress.

Stages of small cell lung cancer

The question of how long people live with lung cancer can only be answered by knowing the stage of the disease. It depends on the size of the oncological process and the degree of spread to other organs. Like most tumors, lung cancer has 4 stages. In addition, there is also the initial phase of the disease. In another way, it is called "precancer". This phase is characterized by the fact that small cell elements are located only on the inner lining of the lungs.

The first stage of cancer is characterized by a tumor size of up to 3 cm. At the same time, nearby lymph nodes are not damaged. Around the tumor process is healthy lung tissue.

Second stage. There is an increase in size (up to 7 cm). Lymph nodes remain intact. Nevertheless, the tumor grows into the pleura and bronchi.

Third stage. It is characterized by the large size of the oncological process. Cancer grows into the lymph nodes of the chest, vessels of the neck and mediastinum. Also, the tumor can spread to the tissue of the pericardium, trachea, esophagus.

The fourth stage is characterized by the appearance of metastases in other organs (liver, bones, brain).

Clinical picture of small cell lung cancer

Clinical manifestations of the disease depend on the stage of small cell lung cancer. At the initial stages, the pathology is very difficult to diagnose, since there are practically no symptoms. The first signs of cancer are observed in the second stage of the disease. These include: increased shortness of breath, a change in the nature of cough (in patients with COPD), chest pain. In some cases, the appearance of blood in the sputum is noted. The changes that occur in the third stage depend on where the tumor has grown. When the heart is involved in the process, symptoms such as pain, arrhythmias, tachycardia or bradycardia appear. If the tumor affects the pharynx and esophagus, there is a violation of swallowing, choking. The terminal stage is characterized by general weakness, enlarged lymph nodes, subfebrile temperature and weight loss.

Small cell lung cancer: life expectancy with such a diagnosis

Unfortunately, this disease progresses very quickly. The life expectancy of patients depends on when exactly the terrible diagnosis was made - "small cell lung cancer". The prognosis of the disease is unfavorable. This is especially true for patients with stages 3 and 4 of the oncological process. In the initial forms, small cell carcinoma is also difficult to treat. Nevertheless, sometimes it is possible to achieve a delay in tumor growth. It is impossible to determine with accuracy how much time the patient has left to live. It depends on the human body and on the rate of cancer development. The five-year survival rate for small cell lung tumors is 5-10%.

Cancer Center (Moscow): cancer treatment

If the stage of the disease allows, then the cancer must be treated. Removal of the tumor and therapy will help not only prolong the life of the patient, but also alleviate his suffering. For effective treatment, you should find a qualified specialist and a good oncology center. Moscow is considered one of the cities where medicine is developed at a very high level. In particular, this applies to oncology. New methods of treatment are being developed here, clinical trials are being conducted. There are several regional oncological dispensaries and hospitals in Moscow. The most significant centers are also Blokhin. These oncology dispensaries have the latest treatment equipment and the best specialists in the country. Scientific experience is widely used abroad.

Small cell lung cancer: treatment

Treatment of small cell lung cancer is carried out depending on the nature of growth, size and stage of the tumor process. The main method is chemotherapy. It allows you to slow down the growth of the tumor, increasing the life expectancy of the patient for months and years. Chemotherapy can be used at all stages of the oncological process, with the exception of the terminal phase. In this case, the patient's condition should be relatively satisfactory and not be accompanied by other severe pathologies. Small cell lung cancer may have a localized form. In this case, chemotherapy is combined with surgical treatment and radiation therapy.